The Gentle Art of the
"Just Because" Card

(Above) These autumnal greeting cards were inspired by a woodland theme, utilizing jewel tone colors (a necessity this time of year) and vintage floral accents. I integrated some hand lettering and chose to design in a "cute" direction that fostered cozy feelings of hot cocoa, crackling fireplaces and curling up with a good book, or trending tv show, during the holidays!

I'm happy to say that I'm no stranger to the warm, cozy, "I'm so loved" feeling of receiving "just because" cards. Since elementary school, my mom has surprised me with many a letter to see me through life's tough spots, or help me celebrate my successes. In an age when e-mail and texting are our go-to's for daily communication, finding a special card in the mail is a rare treat and one to be cherished!

Perhaps it's the handwritten sentiments that give greeting cards their heartwarming touch. Or maybe it's the fact someone devoted time to choosing that particular illustration, or wording, to express themselves that makes stationery so sentimental.

When selecting cards, my mom and I could spend up to an hour in the card shop, taking the art of letter sending very seriously. It's our chance to really show and tell someone exactly how we're feeling and an opportunity to send a little joy their way.

Designing my own cards and stationery was a natural next step. I have, after all, felt first hand how an unexpected encouraging word can truly make a difference. It shows someone you care about that they are being remembered, not just on holidays and not just because of a Facebook reminder, but because they are special to you.

Though this week in the US has been designated the time of year to give thanks and show friends and family how much they mean to you, sending someone a quick note to say "Thank you," "You've got this," or "It's going to be okay" is something we can do any time of the year.

Life, of course, often gets in the way of these sentiments, and it's easy to assume that people already know how you feel. But everyone can use some loving confirmation once in a while. So pick up a pen and dust off your stamps. Lets make it a goal to send more "just because" cards out into the world this year and beyond.

A Festive Table Setting





It was so nostalgic to break out my sewing machine after years of being zipped up in its carrying case. When I unearthed it from the dusty corners of my closet, it was like a visitation from an old friend — one who had seen me through some of the best, and hardest, years of my life.

Art school was not for the faint of heart, and my Bernina was a trusty sidekick. She staid up with me during my all nighters, working equally as hard to churn out my senior Fashion projects. The old girl deserves some love, and some much overdue maintenance, but she pulled through for me yet again...this time, by helping me sew some quick projects on fabric I designed!

From my Thrive collection, I selected two of my favorite patterns to be printed digitally onto Kona Cotton. I think I literally leapt for joy when my fabric package arrived in the mail! I was naturally inspired by the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, so created a beautiful place setting featuring my custom fabrics. It's such a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the table decor.

Let me know what your plans are for Thanksgiving this year. Are you hosting family, or perhaps orchestrating a "friendsgiving?" As per Yamada tradition, we're watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and having some family friends over. I'm also trying my hands at a new vegetable dish featuring butternut squash. Wish me luck!

Thrive - Behind the scenes
of a collection

There's something wonderfully cozy and heartwarming about folk art. It lends a sense of community, shared history, family and tradition; and with the holiday season right around the corner, it seemed only fitting to embrace the feeling of "togetherness" this theme conveys.

I've always fallen hard for the crafts and beautiful embellishments. Folk art is created in a wide array of mediums, my favorites being embroidery, beading and hand painting. I also love the bright colors associated with folk art, though to challenge convention, I implemented a cool-colored analogous color scheme, benching my favorite pinks and yellows that so often find their way into my work.

Below, you'll find a page from my sketchbook where I played with all kinds of European folk art motifs and patterns. Working initially in pen is perfect for the brainstorming stage of a project because it allows the artist to "think" less and quiet their inner critic. When you can't erase an imperfect design, you move on to the next clean space and just keep drawing, encouraging experimentation.


As I've said before, the design process is sprinkled with false starts and misdirection. But these early ideas help me move on to the next big, potentially winning concept. They push me forward. They prove whether an idea I have will work aesthetically or not. Sometimes traces of these early versions end up in my final six designs, and other times, they are archived and filled with future purpose. If you scroll down, it's interesting to see the minor changes between my works-in-progress (directly below) and my finished collection, all of which began using elements from my early renditions.



This pattern collection is one that became unexpectedly close to my heart as I began to emotionally connect the designs I created. Though "Thrive" is essentially a pattern collection inspired by the stories passed down through culture and ancestry, it also pays special tribute to my grandfather, who loved gardening, sharing stories, and who, after his passing, found his way back to our family in the form of a hummingbird (the reasons behind my floral and hummingbird motifs). To this day, hummingbirds hold a cherished, family meaning for us. They remind us of my grandpa's life philosophy: To work hard, but to also make time to taste the sweetness life has to offer...to not just survive, but to thrive.

Confessions of a Homebody



The first time someone told me I was a homebody, I felt insulted – as though that label was synonymous with being called a dull, boring person. So...I got out there. I tried the party scene in college. I sat at sticky bar tables and waited for a "night out on the town" to become fun. But predictably, I'd always find myself standing in the middle of a club, dressed to the nines, wishing I was actually in my pajamas drawing in my sketchbook.

Confession: I love being at home (and yes, I suppose if you have to call me something, I am a homebody). There's really no place I'd rather be. Sure, I might get cabin fever once in a while. But for the most part, to the chagrin of my peers, I'm perfectly content curled up with a good book.

"Home" is not just about a specific location for me, but also a feeling I create for myself, made of the people and things that make me happy. If home really is where the heart is (as the saying goes), then I have abodes in many places.

Home is at the drawing table, tea in my favorite mug and sunlight filtering in. It's nestled into empty corners of the bookstore, or in the window seat at my local cafe. It's in the arms of the people I love, behind my camera, and at my computer, stylus in hand, working on my latest creation.

Despite my initial reaction, being a homebody hasn't turned out to be a bad thing. It's actually the opposite. It's helping me find my tribe – the people who understand me – and what I love and where I work best. So if you would rather choose a quiet night in over a wild night out, don't feel alone...it's okay if others don't quite get it. Stay authentic to yourself and the right people will come flowing into your life.

Do you consider yourself a homebody? What's your favorite indoor pastime? Contact me or leave a comment down below. Lets connect over a mutual love for hot drinks, cozy atmospheres, yarn, books, and pursuits of the creative variety!